Other Items Considered by the Committee

(a)Toronto Ambulance Medical Coverage for the 1999 C.N.E.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(June 22, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services advising of the expanded role of Toronto Ambulance in providing emergency medical coverage for this year's Canadian National Exhibition; and recommending that this report be received for information.

(b)Hatzoloh.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(June 3, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services advising of the establishment of the volunteer Hatzoloh organization which provides emergency response and other community-related services to the Orthodox Jewish community in the area bounded by Sheppard Avenue to the north, Dufferin Street to the west, Avenue Road to the east and Eglinton Avenue to the south; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(c)Request for Quotations for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus.

The Community Services Committee reports having recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee the adoption of the following report:

(June 24, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer recommending that the bid submitted by MSA Canada Inc. for the supply and delivery of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, accessories, cylinder assemblies, records management system and dynamic test equipment be accepted at the total bid price of $2,865,683.59 including taxes less the trade-in amount offered for existing equipment of $843,209.00 for a total expenditure of $2,022,474.59 including all taxes and charges, being the lowest bid received.

(d)Review of Sub-Committees, Special Committees and Task Forces.

The Community Services Committee reports having concurred with the recommendations of the City Clerk contained in the following report; and having further appointed Councillors Irene Jones and Joe Mihevc to the Sub-Committee on Ontario Works Demonstration Projects:

(June 28, 1999) from the City Clerk providing a list of the various sub-committees, special committees, advisory committees and task forces, which were formed under the previous Council-Committee structure and are now grouped under each Standing Committee in accordance with the new Committee Structure; and recommending that the Standing Committees:

(1)determine whether the mandate and membership of those sub-committees listed under the column "Sub-Committees" in Schedule 1 attached should be continued; and

(2)receive for information the balance of Schedule 1 regarding special committees, advisory committees and task forces established by Council.

(e)Redirection of Emergency Hostel Funding.

The Community Services Committee reports having recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee the adoption of the following report:

(June 28, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Provincial Redirection of Emergency Hostel Funding Initiative announced in March 1999; outlining the financial implications; and recommending that:

(1)Council approve the expenditure of up to $2.5 million gross on the Redirection of Emergency Hostel Funding Initiative during the last six months of 1999 which represents a cost to the City of $500,000.00 which will be partially offset by projected savings of $100,000.00 for a final net cost of $400,000.00 to be funded through Departmental underspending;

(2)the City seek provincial approval for funding of Project Going Home and the expansion of the Housing Contacts program through the Redirection Initiative;

(3)based on consultation with emergency shelter operators and other community agencies, the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to select the other programs which meet program criteria and the needs of the City of Toronto, and, within the funding limits established, submit the necessary business plans to the Ministry of Community and Social Services seeking approval;

(4)this report be referred to the Policy and Finance Committee for their consideration; and

(5)the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

(f)Provincial Homelessness Initiatives Fund - Interim Report.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(June 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the activities funded through the 1998/1999 Provincial Homelessness Initiatives Fund; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(g)Resignation - Children and Youth Action Committee.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following communication:

(June 10, 1999) from Councillor Joan King submitting her resignation from the Children and Youth Action Committee, in that she is no longer a member of the Community Services Committee.

(h)Expansion of Public Health Dental Program and New Management Structure for Dental Services.

The Community Services Committee reports having received the following report:

(June 30, 1999) from the Medical Officer of Health and the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services responding to the request of City Council on April 26, 1999, during consideration of the Public Health's 1999 Operating Budget, to provide an update on the expansion of the Public Health dental program and the new management structure for dental services; and recommending that the report be received for information.

(i)Staffing Requirements - Toronto Fire Services.

The Community Services Committee reports having:

(1)recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and Council:

(i)the adoption of the joint report of the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Fire Chief; and that this issue be considered as a matter of urgency and forwarded to Council for its consideration on July 27, 1999;

(ii)that the City of Toronto request the Province of Ontario to fund the transition costs of Fire Services and the impact of the extra responsibility pertaining to inspection services caused by the downloading legislation;

(2)directed that the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer be requested to review the recommendations contained in the aforementioned joint report, and report on a funding mechanism directly to either the Policy and Finance Committee for its meeting on July 20, 1999, or Council for its meeting on July 27, 1999;

(3)directed that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Fire Chief be requested to report to the Policy and Finance Committee for its meeting on July 20, 1999, or Council for its meeting on July 27, 1999:

(a)providing justification for an increase in staffing levels in contrast to the recommendations of the recent KPMG Fire and Ambulance Facilities Study and the Ernst and Young report from the former Metropolitan Council;

(b)on the issue of absenteeism and on a strategy to reduce the numbers;

(c)on the process to be used in the hiring of fire fighters, particularly with respect to equity and diversity;

(d)on the progress of the co-ordination of the tiered response of emergency services (Police, Ambulance and Fire Services); and

(e)if possible, on the implementation of the KPMG Fire and Ambulance Facilities Study;

(4)directed that the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Fire Chief, submit a legal report to the Policy and Finance Committee for its meeting on July 20, 1999, or Council for its meeting on July 27, 1999, outlining Council's potential exposure to liability with regard to staffing level decisions;

(5)directed that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Fire Chief, in consultation with the Executive Director of Human Resources and the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association, report to the Community Services Committee on options, if any, to more effectively manage vacation time to reduce the frequency of vehicles being out of service;

(6)directed that the Executive Director of Human Resources be requested to report to the next meeting of the Community Services Committee to be held on September 9, 1999, on the timetable for the Collective Agreement with the Toronto Fire Fighters; and

(7)supported the Fire Chief's efforts to consult with the Medical Advisor, Human Resources staff, the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, and the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association in developing a common attendance management policy; and directed that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Fire Chief be requested to provide a progress report to the meeting of the Community Services Committee to be held on October 7, 1999, including an analysis of vacation time and sick leave impacts on service levels:

(i)(July 12, 1999) from the Commissioner of Work and Emergency Services and the Fire Chief providing the historical data and statistics on the levels of vehicle staffing and fire protection services presently provided to the citizens of Toronto; and recommending that:

(1)City Council authorize the Fire Chief to hire an additional 117 fire fighters, with 62 starting in November 1999 and the remaining 55 to start in March 2000; and

(2)this report be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee for consideration of the budgetary implications; and

(ii)(July 14, 1999) from Councillor Brian Ashton, Scarborough Bluffs, expressing concern with respect to a notice that had been circulated within his community from the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association; and suggesting that the Community Services Committee consider conducting a series of random personnel audits over select time periods, including the weekend in question.

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Mr. Jim Lee, President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association, appeared before the Community Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

The following Members of Council appeared before the Community Services Committee and asked questions of the Fire Chief in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Councillor Doug Holyday; and

-Councillor Frances Nunziata.